Folding motor scooter

US7882918B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology · US

Inventors

• Ryan Chin · Cambridge, US
• Raul-David Poblano · Somerville, US
• Michael C. Lin · Cambridge, US
• Arthur Joseph Petron · Cambridge, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 3, 2008
• Grant date: Feb 8, 2011
• Expiry date: Dec 26, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B62K2202/00
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An improved electric motor scooter includes: a front frame; a front wheel assembly coupled to the front frame and residing on a surface; a back frame; a back wheel assembly coupled to the back frame and residing on the surface; and a center pivot mechanism coupled to the front frame and the back frame. The center pivot mechanism includes a pivot and a folding axis around which the pivot rotates. The folding axis is not perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the scooter and is tilted from the longitudinal axis at an angle. A rotation of the pivot in a direction folds the scooter vertically from the surface and moves the back wheel assembly toward the front wheel assembly according to the angle. During the folding, the front wheel assembly and the back wheel assembly each remains on the surface as the pivot rotates.